Gas stove with flame detection

ABSTRACT

A gas stove with flame detection comprises a switch module, a flame detection module and a processing module. The switch module generates an ignition signal when a gas stove flame is lit. The flame detection module generates a first light wave signal when the flame detection module detects light wave having wavelengths of about 400 nm to 500 nm, and the flame detection module generates an second light wave signal when the flame detection module detects light wave having wavelengths of about 600 nm to 780 nm. The processing module turns on an air drafting device and an alarm device when the processing module receives the first light wave signal and the second light wave signal at the same time or only receives the second light wave signal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The instant disclosure relates to a gas stove; in particular, to a gasstove capable of detecting the combustion state of gas stove flames.

2. Description of Related Art

The most frequently occurred accidents using a gas stove are carbonmonoxide poisoning and methane gas explosion due to leakage. Carbonmonoxide poisoning occurs due to the environment not being wellventilated and the lack of oxygen which lead to incomplete combustion.Thus, poisonous carbon monoxide gas is generated that is easily inhaledwithout notice, and results in poisoning In terms of gas explosion, itis often caused by an undetected and snuffed-out gas stove flame whilethe gas supply remains open, all of which leads to gas leakage andsuccessively explosion.

Typically, the conventional method to prevent carbon monoxide poisoningand gas explosion is to apply a carbon monoxide detector or methane gasdetector for detecting the concentration of carbon monoxide or methanewithin the environment thereof. When the detected concentration exceedsthe preset concentration limit, warning signals are emitted or gassupply valves are turned off. However, in order to prevent erring indetection, the conventional detectors are actually able to detect andemit warning signals only after a certain amount of methane or carbonmonoxide gas has been accumulated in a poorly ventilated environment.Moreover, many detectors nowadays are only connected to the gas supplyswitch. The gas supply switch is turned off at the same time the warningsignals are emitted. In other words, the conventional arts detectors donot effectively provide preventive measures for carbon monoxidepoisoning and gas explosion. Since by the time the detectors emitwarning signals, the poorly ventilated enclosure has already accumulateda substantial amount of poisoning or explosive gas, which is imminentlydangerous.

To address the above issues, the inventor strives via associatedexperience and research to present the instant disclosure, which caneffectively improve the limitation described above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the instant disclosure is to provide a gas stove thatimproves upon convention arts, which use preventive measures such as acarbon monoxide or methane gas detector in an attempt to effectivelyextract poisonous carbon monoxide or methane gas from an enclosed andpoorly ventilated environment

In order to achieve the aforementioned objects, according to anembodiment of the instant disclosure, a gas stove with flame detectionis provided. The gas stove with flame detection includes a switchmodule, a flame detecting module, and a processing module. The switchmodule generates an ignition signal to ignite a fuel from a gas stove.The flame detecting module is used for detecting combustion state of thegas stove flame and includes a visible light detecting unit. The visiblelight detecting unit generates a first light wave signal and a secondlight wave signal at wavelengths ranging from 450 nm to 500 nm and from600 nm to 780 nm respectively. The processing module is electricallyconnected to the switch module and the flame detecting module. When theprocessing module receives the ignition signal, the processing modulecontrols the flame detecting module to detect for the gas stove flame,and when the processing module receives both the first light wave signaland the second light wave signal or only the second light wave signal,the processing module activates the air drafting device and the alarmdevice.

The instant disclosure provides a gas stove with flame detection whichcan instantly determine whether a flame is present or has beenextinguished completely via the detection of the gas stove flame'scombustion state, and successively turns on the ventilation device toextract carbon monoxide or methane gas from the gas-filled environmentwhile activating the warning device to alarm users. As a result,preventing accidents such as carbon monoxide poisoning and gasexplosion.

Preferably, when the processing module controls the flame detectingmodule to detect for gas stove flame, and when the processing modulereceives both the first light wave signal and the second light wavesignal or only the second light wave signal or has not yet received thefirst and the second light wave signals, the processing module shuts offa gas supply value or adjusts a gas stove gate or adjusts an air gate ofthe gas stove to completely extinguish the flame.

Preferably, when the processing module controls the flame detectingmodule to detect the gas stove flame, and when the processing module hasnot yet received the first light wave signal and the second light wavesignal, the processing module activates the air drafting device and thealarm device such that carbon monoxide or methane gas are immediatelyextracted from the gas-filled environment while promptly providingwarning signals to users.

Preferably, the flame detecting module includes at least one infrareddetecting unit or at least one ultraviolent detecting unit. The infrareddetecting unit generates a third light wave signal at wavelengthsranging from 2500 nm to 3000 nm and whereas the ultraviolet detectingunit generates a fourth light wave signal at wavelengths ranging from185 nm to 260 nm and. When the processing module receives the ignitionsignal, the processing module controls the flame detecting module todetect for flames. When at least one of the first, the second and thethird light wave signals has not yet been received by the processingmodule, or when at least one of the first light wave signal, the secondlight wave signal, and the fourth light wave signal has not yet beenreceived by the processing module, the processing module activates theair drafting device and the alarm device and shuts off a gas supplyvalve in order to instantly determine whether or not the flame has beenextinguished. If the flame is extinguished, the gas stove immediatelyextracts the carbon monoxide and methane gas from the gas-filledenvironment and warns the users.

Preferably, the alarm device includes at least one speaker and at leastone light emitting unit to audibly and visually warn users.

In order to further understand the instant disclosure, the followingembodiments and illustrations are provided. However, the detaileddescription and drawings are merely illustrative of the disclosure,rather than limiting the scope being defined by the appended claims andequivalents thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a gas stove with flame detection inaccordance with a first embodiment of the instant disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the gas stove with flame detection inaccordance with the instant disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a gas stove with flame detection inaccordance with a second embodiment of the instant disclosure; and

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a gas stove with flame detection inaccordance with a third embodiment of the instant disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The aforementioned illustrations and detailed descriptions areexemplarities for the purpose of further explaining the scope of theinstant disclosure. Other objectives and advantages related to theinstant disclosure will be illustrated in the subsequent descriptionsand appended drawings.

First Embodiment

Please refer to FIGS. 1 and 2 as schematic diagrams of a gas stove withflame detection in accordance with a first embodiment of the instantdisclosure. As shown in figures, the gas stove with flame detection 1includes a switch module 10, a flame detecting module 20 and aprocessing module 30. The switch module 10 may include knobs, electronicigniter, and related components arranged on the gas stove exterior. Theflame detecting module 20 includes at least one visible light detectingunit 21 which can detect light waves having wavelengths ranging from 600to 780 nm. Specifically, the visible light detecting unit 21 of theflame detecting module 20 can detect flames with blue color (wavelengthranges from 450 nm to 500 nm), red and yellow color (wavelength rangesfrom 600 to 780 nm).

When user interacts with the knob of the switch module 10 to switch onthe gas stove, the electronic igniter electrically generates flames, andat the same time transmits an ignition signal 101 to the processingmodule 30. After the processing module 30 receives the ignition signal101, the process module 30 activates the flame detecting module 20 suchthat the visible light detecting unit 21 can detect the radiated lightwaves emitted from the flame ignited by the gas stove. The visible lightdetecting unit 21 can detect light waves having wavelengths ranging from450 nm to 500 nm and at the same time transmit a first light wave signal211 to the processing module 30. When the visible light detecting unit21 detects light waves having wavelengths ranging from 600 nm to 780 nm,the light detecting unit 21 transmits a second light wave signal 212 tothe processing module 30. If the processing module 30 simultaneouslyreceives the first and the second light wave signals 211, 212, or onlyreceives the second light wave signal 212, the processing module 30accordingly activates an air drafting device 40 for ventilation and mayalso activates an alarm device 50 having at least one speaker and atleast one light emitting unit such that audio or visual warning signalsare emitted. In other words, as long as the processing module 30receives at least the second light wave signal 212, the air draftingdevice 40 and the alarm device 50 are activated.

Specifically under normal operations of a gas stove, when natural gas iscompletely combusted, a blue color (wavelength ranges from 450 nm to 500nm) emerges from the flames ignited by the gas stove. In contrast, whennatural gas is incompletely combusted, a red and yellow color(wavelength ranges from 600 to 780 nm) emerges from the flames ignitedby the gas stove, at which time, carbon monoxide is generated. If carbonmonoxide is not removed as soon as possible, accident such as carbonmonoxide poisoning is imminent. The visible light detecting unit 21 isused for detecting the colors of the flames from the gas stove(detecting radiated light waves having wavelengths ranging from 450 nmto 500 nm and 600 nm to 780 nm) after the gas stove has been activated.If only blue color flames emerge (when the processing module 30 onlyreceives the first light wave signal 211), the flames have beencompletely combusted, which means normal operation is in place, theprocessing module 30 will not activate the air drafting device 40 andthe alarm device 50. When red and yellow color flames emerge (when theprocessing module 30 only receives the second light wave signal 212) orwhen both the red yellow color and blue color flames emerge (when theprocessing module 30 receives both the first and second light wavesignals 211, 212), the flames have been incompletely combusted, thuscarbon monoxide is prone to be produced. At such time, the processingmodule 30 activates the air drafting device 40 and the alarm device 50to immediately vent out the carbon monoxide while emitting audio (ex.beep) and visual (ex. blinking of the light emitting unit) signals viathe alarm device 50 to warn users.

The visible light detecting unit 21 of the instant disclosure can detectthe combustion state of the flames from the gas stove, and activate theair drafting device 40 and the alarm device 50 according to thecombustion state (complete or incomplete combustion) of the flames, suchthat carbon monoxide generated from incompletely combusted flames can beimmediately removed while warning the user of the condition toeffectively prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.

Many factors may lead to the emersion of the red yellow colored gasstove flames such as problems with air intake adjustments, fluids fromfood being cooked overflow and spill onto the flames, and poorconnection of gas supply. When the processing module 30 is in use, andreceives the second light wave signal 212, the air drafting device 40can be activated and the air gate of the gas stove can first be adjustedwhile continuously detecting flames via the visible light detecting unit21. If the processing module 30 has not received the second light wavesignal 212 after the adjustment of the air gate in a pre-determinedperiod of time, the process module 30 will not activate the alarm device50.

If the processing module 30 receives the second light wave signal 212after the adjustment of the air gate, the process module 30 can detectthe quality of the gas supply via the flow meter installed on the gassupply line. If the supply of gas still remains, which can be due tofluids spilled from food being cooked, the processing module 30 canactivate the alarm device 50 to emit the corresponding warning audio orvisual signals (such as music, tone, human-sounding voice). In addition,the processing module 30 can simultaneously shuts off the gas supplyvalve of the gas stove in order to prevent gas from further supplyingafter fluids continue to spill over and put out the flames. If the gassupply is poor, the processing module 30 can shut off the gas supplyvalve of the gas stove, turns off the air drafting device 40 after apre-determined period of time, and simultaneously emit the correspondingwarning audio or visual signals to warn users of the poor gas supply.Volume of the audio warning signals or flashing speed of the lightwarning signals from the alarm device 50 may increase as warning timecontinue to progress. The alarm device 50 may also include a stoppush-button for user to stop the warning signals from further emitting.Moreover, if the stop push-button is not pressed after the alarm device50 has provided the warning signals in a pre-determined period of time,the processing module 30 can shut off the gas supply valve accordingly.

In order words, when the processing module 30 receives the second lightwave signal 212, the air drafting device 40 can first be activated whilethe air gate is being adjusted and the gas supply flowrate is beingdetected to determine whether the alarm device 50 will emit warningsignals and then further determine to emit audio or visual warningsignals.

Second Embodiment

Please refer to FIG. 3. The gas stove in operation poses not only thepossibility of carbon monoxide poisoning, but also the possibility ofleakage which can lead to gas explosion. The gas stove, which providesflame detection, of the instant embodiment is similar to the previousembodiment in that carbon monoxide poisoning can be prevented, and inaddition accidents such as gas explosion due to gas leakage can beeffectively prevented.

When user interacts with the knob of the switch module 10 to activatethe gas stove, the electronic igniter electrically generates flameswhile transmits an ignition signal 101 to the processing module 30.After the processing module 30 receives the ignition signal 101, theprocess module 30 activates the flame detecting module 20 such that thevisible light detecting unit 21 can detect the radiated light wavesemitted from the flame ignited by the gas stove. When no light wavesignal (first light wave signal 211 or the second light wave signal 212)is detected by the visible light detecting unit 21, the processingmodule 30 controls accordingly to turn on the air drafting device 40 andthe alarm device 50. For example, the processing module 30 can activatethe air drafting device 40 and the alarm device 50 within apre-determined period of time and shut off the gas supply valve 60 atthe same time.

Specifically, if the first and second light wave signals are notreceived by the visible light detecting unit 21, flames are not lit. Forexample, if a flame is not lit or the flame is extinguish due toexternal factors (gust of wind, fluids overflown or spilled from foodbeing cooked), leakage can become a concern, thus, the processing module30 activates the air drafting device 40 to remove or extract the leakedgas, activates the alarm device 50 to emit the corresponding audio orvisual warning signals in order to warn users, and simultaneously shutsoff the gas supply valve to effectively prevent the possibility of gasexplosion.

In conjunction with the first embodiments, when the processing module 30receives the second light wave signal 212 (an indication of flames fromthe gas stove are incompletely combusted, and carbon monoxide ispresent), or when no signals are received (an indication of flames fromthe gas stove are extinguish or are not lit, then gas leakage ispossible), the processing module 30 activates accordingly on the airdrafting device 40 for air ventilation and controls the alarm device 50to emit corresponding audio or visual warning signal while shutting offthe gas supply valve 60, through which accidents like carbon monoxidepoisoning and gas explosion can be prevented.

Third Embodiment

Please refer to FIG. 4. The gas stove with flame detection 1 includes aswitch module 10, a flame detecting module 20, a processing module 30,an air drafting device 40, and an alarm device 50. The flame detectingmodule 20 may include a visible light detecting unit 21, an infrareddetecting unit 22 or an ultraviolent detecting unit 23. The interactionbetween the visible light detecting unit 21, the processing module 30,the air drafting device 40 and the alarm device 50 is similar to that ofprevious embodiments, and is not further disclosed. The flame detectingmodule 20 of the instant disclosure further includes the infrareddetecting unit 22 which can generate the third light wave signal 221 atwavelengths ranging from 2500 nm to 3000 nm and, and the ultraviolentdetecting unit 23 which can generate the fourth light wave signal 231 atwavelengths ranging from 185 nm to 260 nm. With the infrared andultraviolet detecting units 22, 23, determination of extinguished flamesis further expedited. Specifically, the infrared and ultravioletdetecting units 22, 23 detect faster than the visible light detectingunit 21 such that associated preventive measures can be takenimmediately based on the determination of extinguished flames.

Notably, after the processing module 30 receives the ignition signal101, the infrared and ultraviolet detecting units 22, 23 of the flamedetecting module 20 can first be activated to determine whether thethird light wave signal 221 generated by the infrared detecting unit 22or the fourth light wave signal 231 generated by the ultravioletdetecting unit 23 is received by the processing module 30 in order todetermine whether gas stove flames have been lit. If the gas stove flamehas not yet been lit (not yet received the third light wave signal 221or the fourth light wave signal 231), the process module 30 activate theair drafting device 40 and the alarm device 50. If the gas stove flameis successfully lit, the process module 30 activates the visible lightdetecting unit 21 to detect the gas stove flame and determine whetherthe gas stove flame has been completely combusted. The determination ofwhether the gas stove flame completely combusted is based on whether thesecond light wave signal 212 has been received. If the processing module30 has received the second light wave signal 212, which indicates thegas stove flame is red yellow colored and incompletely combusted, theprocessing module 30 activates the air drafting device 40 to provideventing and simultaneously activates the alarm device 50 to providewarning. In other words, when the processing module 30 does not receivethe first, second, and third light wave signals 211, 212, 221, whichindicates the gas stove flame has been extinguished, the processingmodule 30 accordingly activates the air drafting device 40 and the alarmdevice 50, and extracts the leaked gas immediately. Similarly, when theprocessing module 30 does not receive the first, second, and fourthlight wave signals 211, 212, 231, the air drafting device 40 and thealarm device 50 are correspondingly activated.

In another embodiment, after the processing module 30 receives theignition signal 101, which can simultaneously activate the visible lightdetecting unit 21 and the infrared detecting unit 22 (or ultravioletdetecting unit 23), if one of the detecting unit malfunctions, anotherdetector is still available for flame detection. In addition, bydetecting flames multiple times, the processing module 30 can reduceerror in detecting flames.

Since the infrared and ultraviolet detecting units 22, 23 are relativelymore sensitive compared to the visible light detecting unit 21, inpreferred operations, the visible light detecting unit 21 is usedsimultaneously and continuously along with the infrared and ultravioletdetecting units 22, 23 during the process of flame detection. Forexample, when the processing module 30 has received the second lightwave signal 212, which indicates the red yellow colored has emerged fromthe incompletely combusted gas stove flame, and if the gas stove flameis extinguish while the processing module 30 does not immediatelyreceive the third light wave signal 221 or fourth light wave signal 231,the processing module 30 can immediately shut off the gas supply valve,activate the air drafting device 40, and warn users via the emittedaudio warning signals from the speaker or visual light warning signalsemitted from the light emitting unit of the alarm device 50.

The gas stove with flame detection of the instant disclosure can providethe following improvements. With the visible light detecting unit, thecolor of the gas stove flame can be detected, and accordingly determinethe combustion state of the flame, specifically detecting the combustionstate of incompletely combusted flame, then correspondingly activate theair drafting device or the alarm device to immediately extract carbonmonoxide generated from the incompletely combusted gas stove flame orthe leaked gas from the immediate area while providing users with audioor visual light warning signals to ensure users' safety.

Moreover, in another embodiment, the visible light detecting unit can becombined with the more sensitive infrared or ultraviolet detecting unitto expedite detection and determine the existence of a gas stove flame.As a result, when the gas stove flame is extinguished, associatedpreventive measures can be activated as soon as possible. In addition,the processing module can provide repeated confirmations via thetransmitted signals from the two detecting units to reduce the chancesof misjudgment.

The figures and descriptions supra set forth illustrated the preferredembodiments of the instant disclosure; however, the characteristics ofthe instant disclosure are by no means restricted thereto. All changes,alternations, combinations or modifications conveniently considered bythose skilled in the art are deemed to be encompassed within the scopeof the instant disclosure delineated by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A gas stove with flame detection electricallyconnected to an air drafting device and an alarm device, comprising: aswitch module generating an ignition signal to ignite a fuel from a gasstove, and a gas stove flame generating from the fuel; a flame detectingmodule including a visible light detecting unit for detecting combustionstate of the gas stove flame to generate a first light wave signal atwavelength ranging from 450 nm to 500 and a second light wave signal atwavelength ranging from 600 nm to 780 nm and, a processing moduleelectrically connected to the switch module and the flame detectingmodule, activating the air drafting device and the alarm device whenreceiving both the first light wave signal and the second light wavesignal or only the second light wave signal from the flame detectingmodule, and receiving the ignition signal from the switch module.
 2. Thegas stove with flame detection as recited in claim 1, wherein when theflame detecting module is detecting for the gas stove flame, and theprocessing module receives both the first light wave signal and thesecond light wave signal or only the second light wave signal, theprocessing module shuts off a gas supply value or adjusts a gas stovegate.
 3. The gas stove with flame detection as recited in claim 1,wherein when the flame detecting module is detecting for the gas stoveflame, and the processing module receives the first light wave signaland the second light wave signal, the processing module activates theair drafting device and the alarm device.
 4. The gas stove with flamedetection as recited in claim 1, wherein when the flame detecting moduleis detecting the gas stove flame, and the processing module receives thefirst light wave signal and the second light wave signal, the processingmodule shuts off a gas supply value or adjusts a gas stove gate.
 5. Thegas stove with flame detection as recited in claim 1, wherein the flamedetecting module includes at least one infrared detecting unit or atleast one ultraviolent detecting unit.
 6. The gas stove with flamedetection as recited in claim 5, wherein the infrared detecting unitgenerates a third light wave signal at wavelength ranging from 2500 nmto 3000 nm and, when the processing module receives the ignition signal,the flame detecting module detects for flames, whereas when the firstlight wave signal, the second light wave signal, or the third light wavesignal is not received by the processing module, the processing moduleactivates the air drafting device and the alarm device.
 7. The gas stovewith flame detection as recited in claim 6, wherein when the first lightwave signal, the second light wave signal, or the third light wavesignal is not received by the processing module, the processing moduleshuts off a gas supply valve.
 8. The gas stove with flame detection asrecited in claim 5, wherein the ultraviolet detecting unit generates afourth light wave signal at wavelength ranging from 185 nm to 260 nm,when the processing module receives the ignition signal, the flamedetecting module detects for flames, whereas when the first light wavesignal, the second light wave signal, or the fourth light wave signal isnot received by the processing module, the processing module activatesthe air drafting device and the alarm device.
 9. The gas stove withflame detection as recited in claim 8, wherein when the first light wavesignal, the second light wave signal, or the fourth light wave signal isnot received by the processing module, the processing module shuts off agas supply valve.
 10. The gas stove with flame detection as recited inclaim 1, wherein the alarm device includes at least one speaker and atleast one light emitting unit.